Peoli, Ohio, is one of those quiet corners of Amish Country that most tourists never hear about—but that is exactly what makes it so appealing for travelers who prefer two-lane roads, farm lanes, and the feeling that time moves just a bit slower in the hills of eastern Ohio. Tucked into rural Tuscarawas County, Peoli sits within the broad Holmes–Wayne–Tuscarawas Amish settlement, the world’s largest Old Order Amish community, yet it feels far removed from the busier tourist hubs of Berlin, Walnut Creek, and Sugarcreek.gameo
I have actually worked with many of the community’s members including the deacon at a local barn shop. Wonderful people. Peoli is very secluded, and the young people have really been isolated. They are Swartzentruber Amish, so they really are what most people think of when they think of the Amish.
A Hidden Corner Of The World’s Largest Amish Settlement
The Old Order Amish settlement centered in Holmes County began developing in the early 1800s, when families from Somerset and Mifflin Counties in Pennsylvania migrated west in search of affordable land and religious freedom. Over time, the community spread beyond county lines, “spilling over” into parts of Tuscarawas and Coshocton Counties; Peoli sits on this rural fringe, where Amish farms dot the hillsides and gravel lanes.visitamishcountry+1
Peoli itself dates back to the early 19th century—originally known as Newtown, it was laid out in 1817, long before anyone imagined this region would one day be famous as “Ohio Amish Country.” Today, the village is small, anchored by a church and cemetery and surrounded by family farms, including many worked by Amish households who live much as their ancestors did when they arrived on the frontier.wikipedia+2
Life On The Land: Farms, Families, And Faith
Around Peoli, the Amish way of life remains centered on agriculture, family, and church, following patterns that have been in place for more than 200 years in Ohio. Farmsteads are typically home to multigenerational families who raise dairy cows, beef, or chickens, tend large gardens, and often maintain small sideline businesses such as woodworking shops or quilt-making to supplement farm income.bento.pbs+2
Worship services rotate from home to home every other Sunday, conducted in Pennsylvania Dutch (a German dialect) and following Old Order traditions that emphasize humility, separation from the modern world, and mutual aid. Between church Sundays, families gather for work “frolics,” quilting bees, or barn raisings, reinforcing the tight-knit social fabric that has helped Amish communities in this region endure economic and cultural change since the early 1800s.amishamerica+3
A Landscape Of Backroads And Buggies
Traveling the backroads around Peoli, visitors will notice horse-drawn buggies sharing the pavement with pickup trucks, laundry lines full of dark clothing, and white-painted farmhouses set well back from the road. The landscape is a patchwork of rolling fields, woodlots, and narrow hollows, more rugged and less commercial than the open valleys closer to Berlin or Millersburg, which gives this area a distinctly “off-the-map” feel even though it is part of the same broader settlement.daytondailynews+2
Because this corner of Amish Country is less developed for tourism, you will not find large outlet-style shops or choreographed buggy rides; instead, the appeal lies in simple moments—a roadside stand selling seasonal produce and home-baked goods, a field crew putting up hay, or the quiet of an evening when the hills seem to swallow sound. For travelers used to the busier parts of Holmes County, Peoli offers a glimpse of Amish life with fewer visitors and more working farms than souvenir stores.wikipedia+3
History, Heritage, And Famous Connections
The larger Holmes–Wayne–Tuscarawas Amish settlement traces its roots to the earliest Amish arrivals in Ohio, who began settling near what is now Sugarcreek and Walnut Creek around 1808–1809. Those early families found the rolling hills of eastern Ohio reminiscent of their Swiss homelands and gradually established a network of congregations, schools, and farms that today spans multiple counties and includes dozens of distinct Amish affiliations and church groups.innathoneyrun+4
Peoli itself is perhaps best known outside Amish circles as the final resting place of Baseball Hall of Famer Cy Young, whose grave sits on a hilltop in the local cemetery beside a small brick church. The calm, rural setting of Peoli Cemetery—highlighted by a sign noting “Peoli Church. Resting Place of Cy Young”—underscores the way this tiny community connects American sports history with a landscape now shaped by Amish neighbors living quietly along Route 258 and the backroads beyond.wikipedia+1
Visiting Peoli Respectfully
For travelers, the draw of the Peoli area is authenticity rather than attractions: this is a place to drive slowly, observe respectfully, and appreciate a way of life that has survived by keeping the modern world at arm’s length. Photography etiquette is especially important; Amish beliefs generally discourage posed photos of people, so visitors should avoid photographing faces and instead focus on landscapes, farm scenes, and details like buggies (from a distance) or roadside schoolhouses.gameo+2
The best way to support the local community is often the simplest: purchase baked goods, seasonal produce, or handcrafted items at small home-based stands or shops, paying in cash and accepting that hours may be limited or not posted at all. Many travelers pair a slow drive through the Peoli countryside with a meal or lodging in nearby towns such as Sugarcreek, Berlin, or New Philadelphia, using Peoli as a quieter side trip that adds depth and context to a broader Amish Country itinerary.visitamishcountry+3
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_Amish_Country
- https://www.innathoneyrun.com/uncovering-the-history-of-ohios-amish-country-a-journey-through-time/
- https://amishamerica.com/four-holmes-county-amish-groups/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peoli,_Ohio
- https://www.visitamishcountry.com/history-traditions-local-lore
- https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Holmes-Wayne-Tuscarawas_Counties_Old_Order_Amish_Settlement_%28Ohio%2C_USA%29
- https://www.ohiosamishcountry.com/articles/amish-on-the-american-frontier
- https://sabrlandmarks.com/2023/08/30/beneath-the-earth-above-the-stars-cy-young-rests-in-peoli/
- https://bento.cdn.pbs.org/hostedbento-prod/filer_public/thinktv/files/pdf/k-12/Our%20Ohio:%20Exploring%20Our%20Heritage%20Lessons/TheOhioAmish.pdf
- https://www.daytondailynews.com/lifestyles/amish-have-extensive-history-ohio/nkhze8Iug88BbpkbZWWdAJ/
